July 21, 2022
Larne Swimming Club broke the first Irish Record of the week on day two of the 2022 Irish Summer Nationals at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre. The five day event is action packed with 865 of swimmers from over 100 clubs competing throughout the week.
The record came in the final event of the evening, the Mixed 15 yrs and over 400m Mixed Medley Relay, a race that was worth the wait. Larne claimed the gold medal in style, setting a new Irish Senior Club Record with a time of 4:00.95, beating their previous record of 4:01.77. The team comprised of Commonwealth Games bound Danielle Hill and Kaitlyn McCaw as well as Morgan Berryman and recent European Juniors swimmer Thomas Leggett. In second place and taking the silver medal was Ards with a time of 4:01.99 while Kilkenny took the final spot on the podium with a time of 4:05.17.
In the afternoon session, the Female 13-14 yrs 1500m Freestyle was won by Clare Custer (Sunday Wells) in a time of 18:03.02. Joining Custer on the podium was Jessica Purcell (Aer Lingus) who recorded a time of 18:45.41. Eva Hand (Ards) clocked a time of 19:39.20 to take bronze.
There were more medals up for grabs in the afternoon session, this time it was in the Mixed 13/14 yrs 400m Mixed Medley Relay. The final event of the afternoon was one of excitement with several clubs battling it out for the three medals on offer. Banbridge clocked a time of 4:43.45 to take the gold, Glenalbyn took silver with a time of 4:45.97 and bronze going to Dolphin A after they finished in a time of 4:45.97.
The Female 50m Freestyle got the evening finals underway, the 13 yrs were first on the blocks for this event. Carolina Panfili of Italy came home first in a time of 27.84 to take a commemorative medal. Taking gold was Lexi Dunne, finishing in a time of 28.09 (Dolphin), finishing in third spot and taking a commemorative medal was Elisa Giacometti of Italy in a time of 28.46. Isabelle Mooney (Shark) took home the national silver, touching in a time of 29.41, while bronze went to Caoimhe Nic Aoidh (Swilly Seals), who recorded 29.44.
The 14 yrs took to the NAC blocks next with Ava Jones (Portmarnock) taking top spot on the podium, clocking a time of 27.67. In second place was Laura Potts (Templeogue) with a time of 28.30, quickly followed by Holly Wilson (LEA) to take third place.
In the 15 yrs, Zophia Quigley (Ards) took home gold with a time of 27.72, in second place was Rosie Whitten (Swim Belfast), clocking 27.82, third place was claimed by Olivia Miskelly (Banbridge) with a time of 27.91.
Leagh Bailey (New Ross) finished first in the 16 yrs to take the first spot on the podium, swimming a time of 27.70. In second place was Leanna Liddane (Limerick) with a time of 27.77, followed by Izzy McGrath (Dolphin), who recorded a time of 28.14.
The 17 yrs was next up, Niamh Kennedy (Galway) came out on top in a tight finish with a time of 27.25, finishing a close second was Ellie McCartney (Ards) clocking a time of 27.31. In third and taking bronze was Rosalie Phelan (Cormorant) with a time of 27.40.
The final age group of this event was the 18 yrs and over, it was a close encounter that left the spectators on the edge of their seats. Visitor, Inge Weidemann (Tukks) was the winner picking up a commemorative medal with a time of 25.72. Erin Riordan (NAC) swimming in her home pool, took the gold medal with a time of 25.75. Tokyo Olympian, Danielle Hill took the silver medal with a time of 25.76, with the bronze medal going to Molly Nulty (Swilly Seals), who clocked 27.01.
The Male 50m Freestyle was next on the schedule with the 13 yrs up first, Zain Salah finished in first place, recording a time of 26.79, taking a commemorative medal. Taking to the podium to take the gold was Pierre Foster (Lurgan) after he touched in 27.91. Phelim Hanley (Blackrock) took silver with a time of 27.92 and bronze going to Harry Douglas (Armagh) who clocked 27.13.
Up next was the 14 yrs race, Hussein Shawky (Hamilton) came out on top with a time of 25.25 to take a commemorative medal, second and also taking a commemorative medal was Leopold Fournials (Apex), who finished in 26.43. The national gold went to Oliver Gartley (Ards) in a time of 26.46, with silver won by Ryan Griffin (Cookstown) in a time of 26.50. Third place and a bronze medal went to Harry Dougan (Armagh), clocking a time of 27.13
15 yrs was won by John Shortt (Bluefin) who went sub 24 seconds with a fantastic 23.83 to take the gold. Noah Switzer (Dolphin) finished second in a time of 25.31, while Alfie Shawe (Lisburn) placed third in a time of 25.32.
Omar Tallal (Hamilton) finished in a time of 24.71 to win the 16 yrs age group and taking a commemorative medal. The gold national medal went to Killian Brophy O’Loughlin (Coolmine) who clocked 24.90. Silver was won by David Pau (Portmarnock) in 25.22, joining the swimmers on the podium was Benji Cummings (Ards) who touched in 25.73.
Evan Bailey was fastest in the 17 yrs race with a time of 23.77 to take gold. Dylan Registe (Lisburn) finished in 23.92 to take silver, while Oisin Tebite (NAC) took bronze in his home pool, touching in 24.32.
The 18 yrs were next up, Phillip DeLange (Tukks) picked up a commemorative medal, after he finished first with a time of 23.21. Thomas Leggett (Larne), who recently made his Irish debut at the European Juniors, took the gold medal with a time of 23.60. Matthew Walsh-Hussey (NAC) took the second spot on the podium following a time of 24.16. The third and final podium position was taken by Code Dunnion (Ards) who clocked 24.26.
The winner of the 19 yrs and over was Tom Fannon (Laser) who picked up a commemorative medal with a time of 22.30. The national title went to two-time Olympian, Shane Ryan (NAC), who clocked 23.15 seconds. Taking silver with a time of 23.35 was Diarmuid Sutton (Limerick), bronze went to Andrew Moore (Galway) who clocked 23.70.
The Female 100m Butterfly was the next event with the 13 yrs up first, the winner and picking up gold was Lucy O’Brien (Limerick) with a time of 1:08.96. Silver went to Nicole Higgins (Cookstown), clocking 1:09.19, Leah Jacobs (Lurgan) bagged bronze following a time of 1:12.30.
Following the 13 yrs to the blocks was the 14 yrs, Asha Mahanta (Sunday Wells) went fastest with a time of 1:08.04 to take top spot. The silver went to Jordan Winterbach (Titans) who clocked 1:10.38, with the bronze going to Hannah Poynton (Trojan) with a time of 1:10.72.
The 15 yrs title went to Zophia Quigley (Ards) who touched in 1:05.34, silver was won by Rosie Whitten (Swim Belfast) in a time of 1:06.18. Bronze was won by Eva Bayley (New Ross) who finished in 1:06.50.
Alana Burns-Atkin (Banbridge) won the 16 yrs final in a time of 1:03.69. Eva Bailey (Ballymena) clocked 1:06.48 to take silver, while the bronze went to Megan Jones (Portmarnock) in a time of 1:07.68.
Toni Jamison (Lisburn) bagged the national gold in the 17 yrs race, touching the wall in a time of 1:05.90. Hannah McCabrey (Lurgan)took home the silver medal as she clocked a time of 1:06.21. The bronze was won by Dolphin's Heather Fane with a time of 1:06.88. Brompton's Rachael Harris took commemorative gold in the event in 1:05.66.
It was another tight finish in the next race, this time it was the 18 yrs and over, Lucy Thornton (Aer Lingus) touched in 1:02.18 to take the gold medal. Inge Weidemann (Tukks) finished second with a time of 1:02.54 to pick up a commemorative medal. Silver went to Sharon Semchiy (Sunday Wells) with a time of 1:03.11, while bronze went to Ellie McKibbin (Ards) clocking a time of 1:03.48. Kerryn Herbst (Tukks) also joined her teammate to pick up a commemorative medal, finishing with a time of 1:03.28
The next event of the night was the Male 100m Butterfly, the 13 yrs was won by Zain Salah (Hamilton) who touched in a time of 1:04.33, awarded a commemorative medal. The gold was awarded to Phelim Hanley (Blackrock) who clocked a time of 1:06.00, silver went home with Scott Duda (Longford), who recorded a time of 1:08.37, with Jason Siyuan Jia (Tallaght) taking bronze with a time of 1:08.37.
Hussein Shawky (Hamilton) picked up a commemorative medal following a first-place finish in the 14 yrs race, touching in 1:00.48. The gold went to Ben Bickerstaffe (Lisburn) who clocked 1:02.49. Silver was won by Ian Middleton (Glenalbyn) who posted a time of 1:04.81, while Cillian Kavanagh (Aer Lingus) bagged bronze with a 1:07.42 finish.
The 15 yrs gold went to Sean Donnellan (Glenalbyn) who went sub one minute with a time of 58.21. In second and taking the silver was Denis O’Brien (Limerick), touching in 1:00.89, bronze was won by Alfie Shawe (Lisburn) with a time of 1:01.18.
Darragh Morgan (Coolmine) won the gold medal in the 16 yrs race, Morgan clocked a time of 1:00.43. Louis Maguire (Breifne) touched in 1:01.24 to take silver, joining both swimmers on the podium was Ollie Brennan (Coolmine) who finished in 1:01.41.
Evan Bailey (New Ross) continued his great form by bagging another gold in the 17 yrs race, Bailey clocked 54.51, .49 seconds quicker than the morning preliminaries. In second and taking silver was Charlie Eatwell (Ards) with a time of 56.76. In third place was Dylan Registe (Lisburn) touching in 57.09.
Conor Johnson (Kilkenny) came out on top in the battle of the 18 yrs clocking a time of 57.02 to bag gold. The silver medal went to Finlay Wright (Banbridge) in a time of 59.65. Aengus Flanagan (Marlins) took home bronze with a time of 1:00.19.
The final race of the Male 100m Butterfly was the 19 yrs and over, Paddy Johnston (Ards) took the national gold home with fantastic time of 53.85, going over two seconds quicker than the prelims. Callum Ashton (UCD) was in second place to take silver, finishing in a time of 57.17, closely followed by Brogan McAviney (Kilkenny), who clocked 57.34.
The Female 200m IM was next on the schedule of events, Lucy O’Brien (Limerick) won the 13 yrs race in a time of 2:31.33 to take gold, in second and taking silver was Lexi Dunne (Dolphin) in a time of 2:34.17. Third place went to Georgina Walker (Banbridge) in a time of 2:35.75.
Ava Jones (Portmarnock) clocked 2:30.11 to take the gold medal in the 14 yrs race. Niamh Connery (Shark) touched the wall in 2:34.38 to take silver, while bronze went to Jessica Purcell (Aer Lingus), who touched in 2:35.09.
15 yrs were up next with Eva Bayley (New Ross) taking the top spot on the podium with a time of 2:29.31, the second spot went to Olivia Miskelly (Banbridge) with a time of 2:30.43, the final spot on the podium went to Antonina Sech (Sunday Wells) who finished in 2:31.90.
The 16 yrs gold went to Aoife Doran (Aer Lingus) following a time of 2:24.93, the silver went to Keira Aiken (Ards), clocking 2:25.38, while bronze went to Megan Jones (Portmarnock) who recorded 2:28.54.
Recent European semi-finalist, Ellie McCartney (Ards) won the 17 yrs gold by posting an excellent time of 2:18.88. Heather Fane (Dolphin) clocked 2:29.38 to take home silver, the bronze medal went to Toni Jamison (Lisburn) who recorded 2:30.76.
The final female race of the evening was the 18 yrs and over. Naomi Trait (Kilkenny) won gold with a time of 2:23.76, with the silver going to Naeve Pountney (Ards) who clocked 2:27.64. The bronze went to Beth Nolan (Sunday Wells) who recorded a time of 2:27.65.
The final individual event was the Male 200m Backstroke with the 13 yrs first on the blocks, Leon Biss (Swim Belfast) came home quickest with a time of 2:24.57 to take the gold. In second and taking the silver medal was Phelim Hanley (Blackrock), posting a time of 2:30.48. The bronze went to Luke Merrigan (Dolphin) with a time of 2:30.72
Up next was the 14 yrs, Andrew Mullen (Templeogue) came out winner in a time of 2:21.54, with silver going to Daniel McAlinden (Lurgan) in a time of 2:27.03. Paddy Cuddihy (Kilkenny) clocked a time of 2:27.20 to take third spot.
John Shortt (Bluefin) took the 15 yrs gold with a time of 2:05.64. The silver was won by Brydan Byrne (Bangor), touching in 2:09.16. Artem Chobot (Titan) clocked 2:16.14 to take the bronze medal.
Emmett Cousins (New Ross) claimed the 16 yrs gold with a time of 2:13.74, silver went to Robert Mullen (Templeogue) in a time of 2:17.21. Ray O’Shea (ESB) took home the national bronze medal with a time of 2:19.56.
The 17 yrs was won by Brandon Biss (Swim Belfast) with a time of 2:06.34. The second spot on the podium went to Daniel Edgar (Lisburn) who touched in 2:12.53. Bronze went to Cormac Donnellan (Glenalbyn), who clocked 2:12.80.
In the 18 yrs, Daniel Kennedy (Ards) won the gold medal with a time of 2:11.98, silver went to Senan Noonan (Aer Lingus) who clocked 2:17.48, bronze was claimed by Niall McGeown (Banbridge) who touched in 2:17.48.
The final individual race of the evening was the 19 yrs and over, with Nathan Wiffen (Larne) winning gold in 2:03.94. Neddie Irwin (Dolphin) bagged a silver medal with a time of 2:09.27, with the bronze medal going to Conor McMenamin (Aer Lingus) with a time of 2:15.08.
The action continues tomorrow morning at 8:45 with another action-packed day of swimming on the cards. Each and every session will be streamed live on the Swim Ireland YouTube channel.
